LALITPUR: Nepal Mediciti Hospital has successfully performed its first liver transplant, marking a significant medical achievement.
Organising a press conference on Thursday, Nepal Mediciti Hospital informed that it performed liver transplantation of Ishwor Bahadur Karki, 53, of Pokhara on May 22.
Karki’s 26-year-old son Ayush donated for the transplant.
The transplant was carried out in collaboration with India’s renowned charitable Amrita Hospital, in the leadership of Nepal Mediciti doctors. The surgery, which lasted nearly 14 hours, from 6:00 am. to 8:00 pm, involved a living donor who gave a certain portion of his liver to the recipient.
Donor Aayush Karki said, “We went to India twice for our father’s treatment, but their advice didn’t satisfy us, so we returned to Nepal. When it became certain that a transplant was necessary, we returned to Nepal.”
According to Dr. Upendra Mahato, Chairman of Nepal Mediciti Hospital, this is the 1st liver transplant in Nepal Mediciti Hospital. Such a complex surgery was made possible because of a multidisciplinary team.
According to the Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Dr. Umid Kumar Shrestha, the patient’s liver and kidneys had failed. He added, “He was experiencing symptoms such as fluid accumulation in the abdomen, vomiting blood, and loss of consciousness. Despite prolonged attempts at treatment, the issues could not be resolved, so we accepted the challenge.”
Transplant surgeon Dr. Rambabu Sah said, “We had planned to perform the liver transplant first, followed by the kidney transplant. Considering the patient’s critical condition, we worked with great responsibility, and the outcome was positive.” In Nepal, approximately 200 to 300 people need liver transplantation every year. In fiscal year 2023/2024, more than 70 Nepalis went to India to undergo liver transplantation. This successful effort by Nepal Mediciti Hospital has raised hopes that Nepali patients will no longer need to travel abroad for treatment.
The hospital has so far performed kidney transplants for 45 patients, over 500 hip and joint transplants, and has now expanded its services by completing the first-ever liver transplant.
